I was sitting in my cabin, writing, when Gopi Kaka knocked at the door with my bouquet.
'Amrit Bitiya ye-'
'Jaanti hoon kaka!', I said with a crimson blush, walking up to him. 'Shukriya!'
They were double pink buttercups. The bouquet had a note attached -
'Aaj?'
Haye Rabba! Hun iska ki jawaab doon?
I went back to my desk and gently placed them in the vase. Now I'd spend the entire day drooling over these. But first I took a piece of paper and wrote-
'Nahi, kal'
I folded it and turned to Gopi kaka, 'Tussi ye ohnu de aaoge ?'
He nodded with a smile and left. I too went back to my writing.
A while later he returned with a note,
'Aur aaj?'
I thought for a while and then wrote yet another note,
'Nahi aaj nahi'
I requested Gopi Kaka to carry it downstairs and bit my lip, smiling impishly.

Eventually another reply arrived.
'Thik hai, aaj ke baad white nahi pehenge'

'Nahi nahi nahi!', I exclaimed worriedly. I was just larking around. Obviously he looked too hadsome. Hun ki karaan!? I looked here and there, edgily.

'Ahem Ahem!'
Randheer was leaning against the door cross-armed with that murderous smile.
'Kuch keh rahi thi aap?', he said, slowly walking towards me.
'Kuch bhi to nahi!', I said, looking elsewhere.
'Thik hai toh phir tay raha. Fir kabhi -'
'Nahi nahi nahi nahi!', I blurted out.
He raised his eyebrows.
'White bada jach raha hai aap-pe.', I said meekly, turning pink.

'Sirf white ?', he asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Why was this happening in my cabin?! - I can't even run away now!
'Amrit ?', he asked tilting his face
'Har rang aap-pe bohot jachta hai', I said with lowered eyes, my face growing hot.
'Mera poora saala bana dene ke bohot bohot shukriya!', he said softly.
'Ab main chalta hoon'
I so wanted to hide my face behind the end of my saree. But I nodded meekly and he left with a bright smile.
None of us had noticed when Gopi Kaka made his escape.

***

It was about five in the evening. I was writing an article. It was just on the edge of completion, when I ran out of ink. As I opened the drawer for a new inkpot, I noticed a diary. It was a deep brown hand-stitched leather bound diary with a long leather strap wound around it twice. I had bought it for Randheer long ago but it had slipped out of my mind. I recalled the time when he carried a diary all the time with him, maybe to jot down some ideas or to capture some thoughts or maybe just to look around and make a note of things which he found either amazing or unpleasant - things or happenings which needed attention.
'Koi nai, abhi de aati hoon!', I said gleefully and sprinted downstairs. But after a thought, I stopped behind the staircase wall and peeped out. He was sitting in his cabin, engaged in a conversation with Ali Bhaijaan. This had become my favourite spot in the office.

Fursatein kahan aankhon ko hai meri aajkal
ho dekhne mein tujhe ...saara din jaaye nikal
aur fir aahista se.. jab chhu ke tu nikle
teri aankh mein dil mera.. dheeme dheeme pighle..

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba...
haan ishq tera lae dooba...

After a bit I wanted to go closer to the cabin, so that I could hear their conversation. Carefully avoiding the direct view from his cabin as well as acting casually, I emerged from behind the wall and tip-toed nearer. I stood against the wall, near the door. I opened that new blank diary and pretended to read it, while peeking in every now and then.

'Janaab main soch raha tha, kyun na hum ek naya column shuru karein akhbaar mein ?', Randheer suggested. 'Jo aam log hai, jinhone kahin koi pareshaaniyaan uthaayi ho - munasib na ho, jaise umm.. maan lijiye sarkaari daftaron mein- jinka janta aur zimmedaar adhikaariyon ki nazar mein aana zaroori ho; jin logon ke aaspaas koi galat vakya hua ho, ya koi aisi ghatna jisse vo nakhush ho...Kisi shehar ya kisi ilaake mein koi badi musibaat aayi ho aur apni taraf se poori koshish ke baad bhi us musibat se nikalne ka raasta na nikal paaya ho... ya vo apni baat kahin pohochana chahte ho! Hum unki baatein, unki maange apne akhbaar mein chhaap sakte hain! Unki awaaz sahi kaano tak pohoncha sakte hai!', he said eagerly, 'Aapka kya khayal hai ?'

'Ji khayal to bada nek hai ye!', Ali Bhaijaan said approvingly. 'Hairat ki baat hai. Pehle ye khayal kisi ko kaise nahi aaya!', he said thoughtfully.
'Ji vo kehte hai na! Jo cheez jab honi hoti hai, tab hi hoti. Shayad issi liye.', he said with a winsome smile. Just him winning hearts with his words yet again!
'Agar aapko sahi laga hai to hum baaki saathiyon se bhi salaah- mashwaraah karlete hain is baare mein. Agar sabko sahi lage toh Chaudhary Sahab ke saamne ye tazweez rakhenge.', he said courteously.
'Haan janaab ye thik hai!', Ali Bhaijaan agreed. 'Ab main chalta hoon', he said getting up and arranging his set of papers together. 'Thoda kaam bacha hai. Meeting room mein milte hai shaam ko!'
'Ji !', Randheer nodded and went back to his work.

Just then Ravi Sahab popped up behind me, 'Amrit? Ye kori diary kya padh rahi ho!?'
Flustered, I turned around promptly, shutting the diary.
He had said this loud enough to attract Randheer and Ali Bhaijaan's attention and it was useless to ask him to quieten down.
'Ravi Sahab!', Randheer said getting up and coming towards us.
'Ek Kali hai manchali si, bas zikre se humaare din ko roshan kar jaati hai
Dabe pao aana fitrat hai unki, jaane kya athkheliyaan unke mann ko bhaati hai?
Kabhi humse milkar humpar meherbaan ho jaati hai
to kabhi intezaar mein khud hi kori kitaabein bhi padh jaati hain'
A deep scarlet blush came up on my cheeks.
Ravi Sahab said, 'Randheer aapse humne kaha hai ye shayari wayri humari bas ki baat nahi hai. Sidhi bhasha mein kahiye na janaab!'
'Amrit shayad kisi article ko lekar zehni uljhan mein hongi, aur aapko unhe dekhkar aisa laga ki vo ye diary padh rahi hai !'
'Par yahan khade ho kar?', Ravi Sahab further questioned uncertainly.
'Maine hi bulaya tha inhe, ek article ke baare mein inse mashwaraah lene ke liye', he replied.
I looked at him, pleasantly surprised. I would do such silly things and he would cover up for me - nice!
'Aapko darwaaze pe khade rehne ki zaroorat nahi thi. Aap andar aa sakti thi!', he said whimsically.
A soft blush warmed my cheeks as I settled in the chair opposite to his.

'Waise aapki kya raay hai ?', he asked
Confused, I asked, 'Kis baare mein ?'
'Akhbaar mein naye column ke baare mein. Mere hisaab se aapne humaari baatein sun hi li hogi!' , he said looking intently at me.
'Aapka ye khyaal bada changa hai! Isse kinne logon ki pareshaaniyon ka hal jaldi nikal aayega aur kayi ghatnaye jo dab jaati hai vo bhi baahar aayengi!', I said in admiration.
'Shukriya! Ab baaki sab ko bhi ye khayaal pasand aaye!'
'Zaroor pasand aayega!', I said confidently.

'Ye main aapke liye laayi thi', I said timidly placing the diary before him.
'Shukriya Amrit!', he said smiling broadly as he took the diary in his hands. 'Main soch bhi raha tha ki kuch toh kami hai, par kya ye zehn mein kahin kho sa gaya tha!', he exclaimed, admiring it. 'Shayad... aap hi ke haathon ye paheli boojhni thi!', he said softly, looking at me with a smile.
I couldn't help turning pink.
'Ik gal dasaan?'
'Ji ji kahiye !'
'Aapne Lahore mein kaha tha na ki 'Ram Charit Manas' ka anuvaad kar rahe hain Urdu mein. Agar aapka mann ho to aap vo dubaara shuru kar sakte hai ?
'Haan Amrit. Aap maanengi nahi main aaj hi issi baare mein soch raha tha!', he said excitedly.
After thinking for a while I said, 'Mainu pata hai ki tuhaanu dobaara shruvaat se shuru karna hoga par -'
'Ache kaam mein jitni mehnat lage, achi hi hai!', he added with a smile.
'Ji! Aman aur pyaar ka sandesh jitney logon tak pohonche utna acha. Dono hi mazhab yahi toh sikhaate hain!' I replied. He nodded approvingly. 'Tuhaanu pata hai, humaara Kabir sone se pehle aur subah uthne ke baad dua bhi padta aur prarthna bhi karta hai. Bade hone ke baad uski marzi, vo jis bhi mazhab ko maan-na chaahe! Chaahe to dono ko maan le!'
'Ye to kitni kamaal ki baat hai Amrit!', he said with an elated smile. 'Humare apne ghar par in dono mazhabon ka itna meetha sangam hai! Ab toh mujhme is kaam ko jald-se-jald shuru karne chaah hai! Aap isme mera saath dengi ?', he asked eagerly.
'Main ?'
'Ji aap! Ab dekhiye aapne Bauji ke saath milkar Ram Charit Manas baachhi hai. Aapke Ram charit Manas padhne mein aur mere Ram-Charit-Manas padhne mein ek bhaav ka fark raha hai. Dono ka nazariya alag ho sakta hai, kisi bhaag ko lekar ya kisi dohe ko lekar. Baatchit se, vaad-vivaad se hum aur ache dhang is kaam ko anjaam de sakte hain. Hum agar saath milkar iski translation karenge, to mere khyaal se nateeja behtar hoga.
Kahiye? Aap dengi mera saath?'
I looked at him with sparkling eyes. To have a life-partner, who valued your talents, your abilities as much as his own was such a huge blessing. And I agreed to his point too. Discussion and team work always led to better results. I agreed wholeheartedly.
'Aur shubh kaam mein der karni vi nai chahidi!', I remarked.
He nodded and went back to his work. And me? I rested my chin on my arm - too happy to be here!

Roop hoon, teri dhoop hoon
tu suraj hai mann ka mere
ya ghani main hoon roshni
ab chalti hoon, dhalti hoon tujhko hi thaame

ik peher tu kahe thehar to jaaun na dar se tere
har ghadi mushkilon bhari
kyun lagti hai jo bhi
guzarti hai bin tere

tu mile to silsile ho vo shuru
jo hai Khuda ki raza...
tere bina hai zindagi bemaza
tu mil jaye to main jahan se chhupaalu...

After about half an hour, when I noticed that he was done with the lot of articles, I asked, 'Baahar tehelne chale ?'
'Ji! Zaroor!', he said eagerly. 'To aaj humaari manzil kahan hai ?!', he asked dreamily.
'Jahan kadam tham jaaye... use hi manzil maan lenge!', I said with twinkle in my eyes.
'Ye bhi thik hai!', he nodded and got up, opening the door for me.

***

As we walked down the road out of the office, my eyes fell on a Harshringaar plant, completely laden with those tiny white flowers.
'Woh dekhiye Randheer! Harshringaar ka paudha! Tuhaanu pata hai Anarkali Bazaar ke paas ek aisa hi vadda sa paudha tha. Raat ko jab us paudhe ko dekho, to vo saare phool taaron jaise tim-timaate hue dikhte the!'
'Haan Amrit Humaari haveli par tha harshringaar ka paudha! Mummyji ko bohot pasand hai!', he said with a smile.
'Sach?!', I exclaimed, 'Mummyji ko bhi bohot pasand the! Hum jab kabhi bhi Bauji de naal hatti to laut-te the, dagre bhar-bhar ke le aate the! Aur fir Mummyji ke liye uska gajra goonthte the.'

'Kudrat ne humaare aas-paas itni khoobsurti bikheri hui hai! Kabhi kabhi hairaani hoti hai mujhe ki hum insaan apni hi zindagiyon mein itne uljhe hue hote hein ki ise nazarandaaz hi kar dete hai!', he said thoughtfully.
'Aur is khoobsurti ki kadr na karna, ye to banaane waale us Rab ki be-adabi hui na?', I added.
'Par aap aur main koshish karenge ki aisa kabhi na ho, hai na?', he asked looking at me.
I nodded with a bright smile.

He further asked, 'Aapne aazaadi ke baad Hindustan mein kya badlav paaya ?'
I thought for while and then said, 'Sab se pehla badlaav to ye paaya ki Raj ke waqt ki tarah, har gali-chaurahe par Angrez sipahi tainat nahi rehte!'
'Arey haan Amrit! Maine to is baat pe gaur hi nahi kiya! Wakayi bachpan se har mod par vardi mein sipahiyon ko taynaat hi paaya tha humne!'
'Ji!', I nodded. 'Jadon pehli baar sadke khaali vekhi, tab saanu ehsaas hoya ki assi azaad haan!
Iske alawa to zindagi pehle jis tarah chal rahi thi usi tarah thi. Humari aur baaki Punjabi ya Musalmaano ki baat aur hai- humaari to zindagi ki kaaya palat hi ho gayi.
Main aam logon ki, zameeni haqeeqat ki baat kar rahi hoon, zindagi jeene ke dhang mein koi bohot vadda badlaav nahi aaya.
Gaon ke logon aur gareebon mein to alag josh tha azaadi ko lekar, shayad unpar hue zulm ki wajah se kahiye. Aur bas angrezon se azaadi pa lena hi apne aap mein inni vaddi gal hai! Unhe dekhkar to aise lagta maano desh azaad hote hi unhe apni saari ki saari pareshaaniyon se mukti hi miljaani hai!
Krantikariyon, Congress aur baaki partiyon ke netaon ka utsaah alag tha kyonki unke itne saalon ki koshoshein aur kurbaaniyan rang laayi.
Aur ab Congress walon aur baaki netaon ko hi is mulk ki baag-dor samhaalni hai. Sarkar badi lagan se kaam kar rahi thi!
Aam insaan bhi jashn manaa raha tha, par vo is haqeeqat se bekhabar bhi nahi tha ki raaton-raat kuch bhi nahi badalta.'
'Hmmm', he nodded thoughtfully. 'Kisi bhi badlaav ko aane mein waqt to lagta hi hai!'
Haan ek baat, ek bhaav - in sab ko, hum sab ko baandhe hue tha!'
'Aur vo kya?', he asked.
'Ye ehsaas ki ab aage jo bhi hoga, humaara hoga! Log bhi humaare honge, faisle bhi humaare honge aur naam bhi humaara apna hoga. Kisi aur mulk ki khwahishon ke mutabik humaari taqdeer nahi likhi jayegi, unki jhoothi shaan ke tale humaare wajood ko raundha nahi jayega!', I said proudly.
'Aur yahi humaari pehli kaamyaabi hai! Abhi toh Hindustan ko bohot aage jaana hai!' he said proudly.

'Yahan aisi kya cheez aapne pehli baar dekhi ?', he asked.
'Umm... yoon to kayi cheezien par maine yahan aane se pehle kabhi bhi tan-tan nahi dekhi thi!'
'Tan-tan ?', he asked in confusion.
'Oh! Tan-tan se mera matlab hai tram!', I said with a chuckle.
'Par aapne use tan-tan kyun kaha ?', he further questioned with an amused smile.
'Kyunki usse tram koi vi nahi kehta. Darasal sadakon par chalte waqt uski ghanti tan-tan si awaaz karti hai, isiliye sab yahan use tan-tan hi kehte hai!'
Randheer smiled.

He further asked, 'Dilli kaisi lagi aapko ?'
'Dilli!', I looked at him with an amused smile. 'Badi dilchasp hai Dilli!', I said, looking ahead.
'Rajasthan mein dhool uthti hai garmiyon mein, Dilli pohonch jaati hai!
Sardiyon mein pahadon pe thand padti, khoob barf padti hai, Dilli pohonch jaati hai!

Kisi Pradesh mein koi siyaasati masla hota hai, laal batiyaan yahan daudne lagti hai
Dange kisi bhi sehar mein ho, barricade yahan lag jaate hai!

'Matlab ek tarah se apne aap mein poora Hindustaan samete hue hai Dilli!', he remarked
'Haan!', I nodded with a smile.

'Tuhaanu pata hai Lahore aur Dilli bhi aapas mein kinni tarah se jude hue hai - Sanrachnao se, saqafat se, khaane se-', I said with a chuckle, 'aur sabse zyaada logon se!'

'Humaare aaspaas kinne saare log honge jo paida Lahore mein hue aur zindagi itthe bita rahe hai!
Mainu pata hai aapka sawaal Dilli ke baare mein tha par Lahore mere andar itna racha-basa hua hai ki uska zikr kiye bina mera mann hi nahi maana!', I added with a guilty smile.
'Main samajh sakta hoon Amrit. Aur wakayi Dilli kayi maino mein hume Lahore ki yaad to dilaati hi hai! Dono hi seharon ko kala, likhaayi, sangeet, theatre aur cinema se kitni mohabbat hai. In dono sheharon ki aab-o-hawa mein hi koi jaadu ho jaise!'
'Aur Dilliwalon ki shaan bhi Lahoriyon se kam hai kya!
Qazalbash Sahab bhi sahi keh gaye!
"Humi hain maujib-e-baab-e-fasaahat hazrat-e-Shaayar
Zamaana seekhta hai hum se hum vo Dilliwaale hain!",
I added with an amused smile.

'Beshaq!', he said with a broad smile.
'Kehte hain Dilli ke kabze se pehle yahaan ke rang-dhang hi kuch aur the!', I said thoughtfully.
'Aap १८५७ ke ghadr ki baat kar rahi hai ?', he asked.
'Ji Randheer. Maine suna hai usse pehle kothiyon mein baithne waale ashraafiyaa ho ya baazaaron mein gaane waale awaara - sabhi kavitaon ke deewane the! Nazm-nigaaro ki nagri thi Dilli!'
'Maine bhi suna hai ! Yahaan sirf Kaviyon ka, Shaayaron ka bol-bala tha! Jitni kadr unki thi utni to shayad bade-bade aadmiyon ki bhi nahi thi Dilli mein. Unka rutba hi kuch aur tha! Us waqt shayri-kavitaein zindagi ka hissa nahi balki yahaan ki zindagi hi thi! Mughal shaayaron ki mehbooba thi Dilli!', he added.

'Sab kehte hai ki hum aaj jo Dilli dekhte hain vo us waqt ka bas malbaah hai, us jannat ka tukda bhar, us sunehre waqt ka khandahar. Kabhi kabhi main sochti hoon, agar ye malbaah itna khoobsurat hai, itna dilkash hai to vo afsaanvi jannat kaisi hogi ?!', I remarked with a sparkle in my eyes.
'Uska to hum bas andaaza hi laga sakte hai!', he replied, turning towards me. '

We realized, we were standing before the majestic Lahori Gate. I smiled and nodded.
'Ye dekhiye! Ek aur misaal, Dilli aur Lahore ke jude hue hone ki!', Randheer said with a grin. I too smiled.

'Ab itthe aa gaye hai to andar chalein !', I asked, and he agreed.
We went into the Lahori Gate, and quickly walking past the Meena Bazar, we entered the Red Fort Complex.

It was Sunday evening. We could see small groups of people walking around. Men generally in shirt-pant or kurta-pyjama, women clad in sarees, salwar kameez or burkhas. A brisk breeze was blowing. Pigeons circling the sky was a common sight.

Down the paved pathway, there was a shrubbery of the fragrant Kamini, some bushes had grown as tall as trees. The air perfumed by them, the branches full of small white blossoms against dark-green leaves, the ground covered with petals. As we passed below, Randheer hustled the leaves gently, and a shower of fragrant flowers fell on my hair.
Elated I turned towards him.
With a gentle smile, he took my hands into his and said,
'Khyaalon ka khumaar hai'
'Doob jaane do...', I joined in with a blush.
'Nigahon ki guhaar hai', he continued.
'Doob jaane do...', I added.
'Dhadkano ki aahat pe',
'Jaan Nisaar hai...'
'Besabr si saanson ko-',
'Intezaar hai...'
'Pyaas dono paar hai',
'Doob jaane do...'
'Kehna humko aapse jo ek baar hai...' he said softly
'Sunna wahi aapse baar baar hai...', I said looking deep into his eyes
'Haan yahi toh'
'pyaar hai...'
'Bas yahi toh...'
'Pyaar hai...'

'Mere gulab par ye kamini ke phool behad khil rahe hai!', he said with a twinkle in his eyes and I turned the deepest shade of red. He is such a charmer and I was so hopelessly in love. Haaye Rabba!

Hand in hand we walked down the semi-circular walkway towards Naubat Khana, occasionally stealing glances at each other. We walked through the Naubat Khana, a striking three storied red sandstone- structure, which used to be the waiting hall for the Mughals. In front of us stood the Diwaan-e-aam- an impressive facade of nine engraved arched openings, again in red sandstone. It was open and three sides. It was huge. As we moved closer, we could see the raised marble throne at the center.

As we were walking past it, I saw a flock of pigeons take flight from the roof of Naubat khana and come swooping down in this direction. I raised my bent left arm, eagerly hoping one of them would perch on it. And to my delight, one white pigeon alighted on my arm. I beamed. As I tried to stroke it, it fluttered its wings and shifted to my shoulder. I wanted to fondle it but feared that it would fly away.
'Udd kar to aa gayi ye aapke paas par aapki chhuan isse pasand nahi aayi shaayad!', Randheer remarked. 'Ek baar aur koshish kar ke dekhiye ?'
'Nahi nahi, agar ye udd gayi toh?', I said worriedly.
'Shayad ise meri chhuan pasand aa jaye ? Main koshish karu ?', he asked softly.
'Aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai ki isnu kisi-ka bhi haath lagaana raas hi na aaye!', I said thoughtfully.
'Acha thik hai main dheere se koshish karunga. Agar ye zara sab hi chhatpatayi to main haath peeche le lunga'

'Pakka ?!', I asked uncertainly.
'Haan Amrit pakka!', he said reassuringly.
He moved a bit forward and stoked it's back tenderly, and thankfully it did not fly away. I grinned like a Cheshire cat! For a while he petted it while the pigeon cooed. Then unexpectedly, he took my right hand gently and made me fondle it too. I looked at him with a sparkle in my eyes. An unsaid wish had been fulfilled.

After caressing the pigeon for some time, it flew away on its own accord. We smiled after it and moved past the Diwaan-e-Aam towards the Rang Mahal.

A big square marble basin was located in front of the Rang Mahal, with ornamental trees lining the walkway . We wended our way past it, from the left of the Palace. It was an exquisite white structure with six, ornately carved arched openings. The entire palace was on a knee-high raised platform. We took the couples of stairs and set entered it. It was a criss-cross of pillars with archways, with an empty water channel, Nahar-i-Bihisht running midway across the width of it. The nahar had a huge ivory lotus shaped fountain in the centre. Pale sunlight filtered in through the arched windows up on the wall, making the pillars gleam yellow. We were walking through the width of Rang Mahal.

'Ye nakaashi, ye deewarein kitni dilkash hai na Amrit!', Randheer said, running his hands over a pillar.
'Ji Randheer!'
We stopped at an archway and moved a bit towards the threshold. The sun was about to set, giving the sky an orange-ish glow.
'Ye saanjh ki laali kinni sudar hai na Randheer!', I exclaimed.
'Ji! Behad Khoobsurat!', he replied softly.
I turned to look at him but he wasn't there. I suddenly realised, he was sitting legs down, on the threshold leaning against the pillar, looking fixedly at me.
I too leaned against the pillar behind me, wishing if we could just freeze in time somehow.

Lae akhaan rakhle girvi
deewaani hai ye teri
churake tujhse nazrein
tujhe dekha karengi

Ye kya deewangi hai ?!
Kyun mera dil shor paaye?!
Ye kya mujhko hua hai ?!
Kyun utthe dil chhod aaye ?

We were brought out of our reverie by the sound of a shutter-click from inside the Rang Mahal. I turned inwards to find a young man in his late teens with a camera in his hands, looking at us.
'Hello', he greeted anxiously. 'Maafi chaahta hoon, bina aap dono ke ijaazat ke, maine aapki tasweer kheech li. But everything was just so scenic! Aap dono na jaane kis jahaan mein khoye hue, vo doobta hua sooraj, ye Rang Mahal. Main khud ko rok hi nahi paaya!
Darasal main ek photographer hoon. Mujhe pasand hai alag alag jagaho par jaakar yoon hi tasweerein kheechna. Sirf aapki nahi, maine aur bhi kayi logon ki tasweerien kheech chuka hoon. Par pehle kabhi kisine mujhpar dhyaan hi nahi diya', he said nervously. I was bubbling with excitement. Someone had finally clicked one photograph of ours! I thanked God, that we noticed him.
I looked at Randheer for a second and then turned to the young man. 'Ji hume koi dikkat nahi hai par ek ichha hai. Vo tasweer jo aapne abhi kheechi, kya aap vo hume bhi de sakte hai ?', I requested, expectantly.

'Ji itni chhoti si baat?! Zaroor!', he exclaimed in relief. 'Aap mujhe apna pata likhwa dijiye, main aapko daak se bhijwa dunga! Will that be fine?'
'Ji thik hai', I nodded happily and made him write the address in a small notepad he had. When he left, I turned back to Randheer.
He stood there cross-armed with an amused smile and raised eyebrows.
'Vo humaari pehli tasweer thi na, saath mein. Toh... humaare paas honi chaiye na?!', I said with a bashful smile.
'Zaroor honi chaiye! Main bhi yahi karne waala tha!', he replied with a grin.
I lifted his hand and looked at the watch, 'Randheer! Bas das minute reh gaye hai meeting shuru hone mein!', I exclaimed anxiously. 'Ab wapas tehelkar kar jaane ka waqt nahi hai!'
'Baat to aapne sahi kahi. To ab ?'

'Kuch nahi, daudna padega! Lahori Gate par tanga le lenge.'
'Amrit apne saadi pehni hai, kaise daudengi aap ?', he said in a concerned manner.
'Tussi fikr na karo. Hun daudna zaroori hai. Tussi mein meeting mein der naal nahi pohonch sakte! Main dhyaan rakhungi. Chalo chalo chalo! ' I held my saree with one hand, grabbed Randheer's hand and we ran across the pathway, past the marble basin, the Diwaan-e-aam, the Naubat Khana and finally reached entrance of Meena Bazar. Quickly making our way past the crowd, we hurriedly took the forced tanga. As we settled in, huffing and puffing, we looked at each other and burst out laughing.
What a run it had been! And what an evening!

***

It was late at night. It had been a while since I had returned from Kabir's room, after putting him to bed. For quite some time I had been reading in the balcony. As Randheer returned, I waved him goodnight and came back.

I was reclining on my bed, reading 'Gaban' when I noticed Kabir standing at the door. I pretended as if I had not seen him and continued to read.
He tip-toed inside, got into my blanket around my feet and crawled up, still hiding.
'Ye kaun aaya ?', I asked pretentiously.
'Khargosh!', he said cutely, uncovering his face from the blanket and snuggled into me.
'Mere khargosh nu neeni nahi aa rahi ?', I asked worriedly. He shook his head.
'Ki hoya puttar ?', I asked, cupping his face.
'Tussi sacchi chale jaoge vyaah ke baad ?', he asked sadly
I embraced him tightly, 'Nai puttar! Randheer ka ghar to itthe hi hai na. Tu jadon vi awaaz lagaega, main daud ke aa jaawangi!'
'Pakki baat ?!', he asked adorably.
'Haan bacche, pakki baat!', I said with a smile.
Soon he fell asleep, hugging me tightly.